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Your Newborn's First Week - Newborn Parent Education
Your Newborn's First Week - Newborn Parent Education
Expect
By: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
First, install a rear-facing car safety seat in the back of your vehicle. (Note that all U.S. hospitals will check to make sure
you have one—so this isn't optional.) If you haven't chosen a car safety seat yet, here's a handy guide (/English/safety-
prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Rear-Facing-Car-Seats-for-Infants-Toddlers.aspx).
Based on extensive research, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that newborns always sleep on
their backs (/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx) to prevent sleep-related
deaths. Additionally, your baby should sleep on a firm, flat surface. Make sure you use a crib, bassinet, portable crib or
play yard with a mattress that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards
(https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep).
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Keep your baby's sleep space free of blankets, pillows, pads, bumpers, or toys. For extra warmth and comfort, you can
swaddle your baby (/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx); just be sure to
position them on their back when it's time to sleep.
Find more safe sleep essentials here: "How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained (/English/ages-
stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx)."
How will you know when baby's ready to eat? Crying is a classic hunger signal, but there are others to watch for:
"Rooting," or moving the jaw, head or mouth around in search of breast or bottle
Restlessness or fussiness
Most newborns will eat every 2 to 3 hours, but your baby's pattern may vary (and be perfectly healthy). For the first 2
days, your baby might take in just a half-ounce per feeding, moving up to 1-2 ounces after that. Your pediatrician will
ask about feeding routines and suggest any changes to help your little one thrive.
Formula-fed newborns who take well to the bottle will wet 5 or more diapers within the first day or two. Breastfed
newborns might wet less until the nursing parent's milk supply has come in fully. But don't worry: breastfed babies
(/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/How-to-Tell-if-Baby-is-Getting-Enough-Milk.aspx) get their share of
necessary calories from the early milk (colostrum) that mom produces. Within 3 to 5 days, both breast-fed and bottle-
fed babies will wet about 8 diapers every 24 hours.
As breast milk or formula makes its way through your baby's system over the next few days, their poop will look
different. Breastfed babies usually produce mustard-yellow, seedy-looking poop, while bottle-fed babies put out
different shades of pasty brown. This transition from dark, sticky poop to lighter-colored output suggests your baby is
getting plenty to eat.
Jaundice means your baby's body is working extra hard to handle bilirubin, the substance left behind when our
systems break down and get rid of old red blood cells. Some babies experience higher-than-normal levels of bilirubin
as their livers learn to cleanse it away. Since some cases can be serious, call your doctor if you see signs of jaundice.
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Read more here: "Jaundice in Newborns: Parent FAQs (/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/jaundice.aspx)".
If the area gets soiled, just use ordinary soap and water to cleanse (/English/ages-stages/baby/bathing-skin-
care/Pages/Bathing-Your-Newborn.aspx) it. There are no blood vessels or nerve endings in the cord itself—so you
don't have to worry about hurting your baby.
Signs of jaundice
Hardness in your baby's abdomen, especially if they haven't pooped in the last 24 hours
Unusually fast breathing, flaring of nostrils, grunting while breathing or ribs sticking out with each breath
New parents may feel reluctant to call the doctor, but follow your instincts – they're usually spot-on. Remember, your
pediatrician is there to help you navigate the challenges of parenthood and will be happy to provide care, reassurance
and support.
More information
Your Baby's First Hour: Getting to Know Each Other (/English/ages-stages/prenatal/delivery-
beyond/Pages/Bonding-With-Your-Baby.aspx)
How Often & How Much Should Your Baby Eat? (/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/how-often-
and-how-much-should-your-baby-eat.aspx)
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Last Updated 8/14/2023
Source American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2023)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
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